(BALTIMORE, MD) --- Frank Hamons, the Maryland Port Administration's (MPA) Deputy Director for Harbor Development, has been named Port Leader of the Year by the Baltimore Junior Association of Commerce. Mr. Hamons oversees and is responsible for the MPA's Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP), which studies short and long-range dredging needs and identifies and implements dredged material placement options for the Port of Baltimore.
"There is no one more deserving of this award than Frank Hamons," said Maryland Secretary of Transportation John D. Porcari. "His contributions to the environmental science of dredged material placement are well-renowned in his industry. Frank also has engaged local citizens in active participation during his dredging projects. I strongly applaud the Baltimore Junior Association of Commerce for its choice."
Mr. Hamons directs selection, environmental feasibility, engineering and design, construction, operation and closure of dredged material placement sites, with a specific importance placed upon beneficial and innovative reuse. Using sediment dredged to clear shipping channels, he has overseen the rebuilding of several islands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including Poplar and Hart-Miller islands, and the renovation of the Cox Creek site in Baltimore Harbor. Due to erosion and a rising sea level, Poplar Island, located in the mid-Bay region, had whittled from a 1,140-acre small farming village in the 1800's to four acres in the 1990's. Today, dredged material has been used to rebuild Poplar to its original acreage, and Poplar has become a home for nearly 200 species of birds, including eagles, herons, and pelicans. In 2006, the Poplar Island project won a national environmental excellence award.
Hart-Miller Island, located on the Back River in Baltimore County, was another historic island that had suffered from severe erosion. Hart-Miller began receiving dredged material in 1984 and it continues today. By the time the project is finished in 2009, Hart-Miller will be fully restored to nearly 1,100 acres. Today Hart-Miller Island State Park is a popular place to boat, fish, camp and swim. It is also the home of nearly 300 species of waterfowl and migratory birds.
On projects like Poplar, Hart-Miller, and others, Mr. Hamons and his department have actively sought and organized the participation of several citizen's oversight and advisory committees. Mr. Hamons has understood the need for public involvement from the very early stages of a project to its completion. Citizen committee members usually live near the project sites and their input and ideas are key to developing the placement projects. Their ideas have been used and implemented in each of the projects. In 2004, the MPA received a national award from the American Association of Port Authorities for community and public involvement for its dredged material projects.
"Frank's knowledge of his field is simply second to none," stated MPA Executive Director Brooks Royster. "His emphasis on beneficial and innovative reuse of dredged material will be felt for many more years to come. Frank is a key reason why the MPA is seen as a leading authority in dredged material placement."
In addition to his work for the DMMP, Mr. Hamons is also responsible for coordinating the multi-agency management of the Port of Baltimore's channel navigation systems. This includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's PORTS system, which provides real-time data and forecasting of water levels, tides, and currents. This system helps provide safe and efficient ship passage through Baltimore's channels.
The Port Leader of the Year is a long-standing tradition of the Association. Recipients are nominated by the port community and voted on by a panel of peers. Last year's award winner was David Stambaugh, general manager of the Baltimore Maritime Exchange. Other past winners have included Don Carroll, chairman of the board for T. Parker Host of Maryland and Horace Alston, vice president of the International Longshoreman's Association.
Mr. Hamons, who has been with the MPA since 1980, will be awarded his recognition during the Association's 34th Annual Port Luncheon, scheduled for September 27 at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel.
CONTACT:
Richard Scher
JB Hanson
MPA Communications
(410) 385-4480 |
